Sunday Reflection (February 23, 2025)

Sunday Reflection upon Psalm 37:1-11 

Trust in the Lord and do good: The word “good” translates in the Greek Old Testament to a word familiar to us: “grace and kindness.” Trust in the Lord and do grace and kindness! The Psalm adds a caveat: trust and do good with “commit your way to the Lord.” Psalm 37 encourages us to trust in the Lord and commit our way of life to the Lord, a way of grace and kindness.

Trusting in the Lord and doing good are not the same, but they are similar to ‘Love the Lord your God with all of you and your neighbor as yourself.’ As understood in the Old Testament, our neighbor is not just the person next door but, more importantly, in need. Part of doing good in the prophetic context was to extend kindness and grace to the least vulnerable, a principle that remains as relevant today as it was then. God judges us and all society by how the vulnerable are treated. We all share this solemn responsibility to ensure the well-being of those in need, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.   May we trust, commit our ways to the Lord, and practice grace and kindness. This approach is our path to a hopeful future and a more grace-filled today.